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subdue

sub·due
S s

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [suh b-doo, -dyoo]
    • /səbˈdu, -ˈdyu/
    • /səbˈdjuː/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [suh b-doo, -dyoo]
    • /səbˈdu, -ˈdyu/

Definitions of subdue word

  • verb with object subdue to conquer and bring into subjection: Rome subdued Gaul. 1
  • verb with object subdue to overpower by superior force; overcome. 1
  • verb with object subdue to bring under mental or emotional control, as by persuasion or intimidation; render submissive. 1
  • verb with object subdue to repress (feelings, impulses, etc.). 1
  • verb with object subdue to bring (land) under cultivation: to subdue the wilderness. 1
  • verb with object subdue to reduce the intensity, force, or vividness of (sound, light, color, etc.); tone down; soften. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of subdue

First appearance:

before 1350
One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English so(b)duen, so(b)dewen < Anglo-French *soduer to overcome, Old French soduire to deceive, seduce < Latin subdūcere to withdraw (see subduct); meaning in E (and Anglo-French) < Latin subdere to place beneath, subdue

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Subdue

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

subdue popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 91% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

subdue usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for subdue

verb subdue

  • abate — If something bad or undesirable abates, it becomes much less strong or severe.
  • appease — If you try to appease someone, you try to stop them from being angry by giving them what they want.
  • balmed — simple past tense and past participle of balm.
  • bankrupted — Law. a person who upon his or her own petition or that of his or her creditors is adjudged insolvent by a court and whose property is administered for and divided among his or her creditors under a bankruptcy law.
  • be-little — to regard or portray as less impressive or important than appearances indicate; depreciate; disparage.

Antonyms for subdue

verb subdue

  • brace up — to call forth one's courage, resolution, etc., as after defeat or disappointment
  • burn — If there is a fire or a flame somewhere, you say that there is a fire or flame burning there.
  • calcine — to heat (a substance) so that it is oxidized, reduced, or loses water
  • calcined — to convert into calx by heating or burning.
  • conflagrate — to catch or set on fire

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See also

Matching words

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